Magnetic lid lifter



March 27, 1956 w. E. MooRE MAGNETIC LID LIFTER Filed Deo. 20, 1950 46/m/ENTOP.

WHL TER E. MOORE) 2,739,378 MAGNE'HC LID LIFTER Walter E. Moore, BelNor, Pato., assigner to Swiug-A-Way Manufacturing Company, Louis, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Application December 2d, 1956i, Serial No.291,849 7 Claims. (Ci. 3ft-6.4)

The present invention relates generally to can openers, and moreparticularly to novel improvements in magnetic lid lifters or holdersadapted for use in combination with mechanical can openers.

Briefly, the invention contemplates an improved magnetic lid lifter orholder comprising a novel arrangement of two permanent magnets in anon-magnetic holder to form a magnet assemblr, said assembly beingresiliently suspension mounted in a shell-like enclosure or cover whichis, in turn, pivotally mounted to an element of a known type ot' canopener.

it is a general object of tl e present invention to provide improvementswhich will overcome certain deficiencies in the manufacture and in theoperation of known devices intended generally to retain a severed cantop or lid to prevent it from falling into the can.

ln the attainment of the general object, as above set forth, it is aspecinc object to provide a novel, magnetic can top or lid lifter orholder which is so mounted as to permit ready and convenient access toparts of the associated can opener which it is desirable to cleanperiodically.

lt is another specific object of the invention to provide a magnetic lidlitter or holder having an exceptionally efficient magnet assembly,which exceptional eciency results from the employment of a plurality ofseparate magnets adapted to attract a lid.

lt is another specific object of the invention to provide a magnetic lidlifter or holder in which the magnet assembly is freely supported so asto enable it to conform to the usual tipped position of the can lid atthe moment of final severance, thereby to lessen the possibility ofpulling the lid from the lifter at the moment of maximum holding strain.

lt is another specific object of the invention to provide a magnetic lidlifter or holder in which the magnet assembly is resilently suspensionmounted, thereby continuously to adapt the position of the magnetassembly to the various positions of the lid as it is severed from thecan, and, further, to exert through spring retraction an effectivemechanical lifting force upon the lid when it is finally severed fromthe can to raise it from the contents thereof. l

Other specific objects of the invention are to provide a magnetic lidlifter having a minimum number of separate parts adapted to relativelyinexpensive mass production and assembly, which is neat and compact inappearance, which is automatic in its action, and which has an inherentlong life.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan View of a magnetic lid lifter constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention shown attached toa mechanical can opener of known type severing the lid from a can;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken generally alongthe line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view taken generally on thelongitudinal center line of the magnetic lid lifter showing a magnetassembly in a normal position of rest;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a magnet assembly;

rates Patent C m Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view thereof takengcnerally along the line 5-5' ot Fig. 4;

iii. 6 is a bottom plan view 0f the magnet assembly of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is an isometric view thereof.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, amagnetic lid lifter l@ is shown pivotally mounted by means of a rivet l2to a horizontally disposed ange or can top guide bracket i4 and a knowntype of wall mounted can opener Although not shown in the drawing, therivet l2 may have assembled therewith a resilient device, for example, acommon lock washer for the purpose of providing continuous frictionalcontact between the abutting surfaces of the riveted joint.

As mentioned, the can opener 16 may be a known type adapted for wallmounting and may comprise principal elements, such as a frame 2t! uponwhich is slidably mounted a carrier 22 so as to be movable with respectto the frame 2@ upon rotation of a lever 24. A crank 26 and a feed wheel(not shown) are rotatably mounted on a lower portion of the frame 2l),the feed wheel (not shown) being adapted to cooperate in conventionaloverlapping relation with a cutter disc 30 rotatably mounted on thecarrier 22 in severing a lid such as 32 from a can such as 34.

The conventional overlapping relation of the feed wheel (not shown) andthe cutter disc Sil, when the lever 2d is in the position of Fig. l,provides effective support for the weight of the can 3a and the contentsthereof, and the can is rotatably maintained in a vertical position bylateral abutment of its side with a conventional horizontally disposedcan guide flange (not shown) of the frame 2li, and by vertical abutmentof its upper rim with the underneath surface of the can top guidebracket 14. A rim guide bracket 33 mounted on the carrier 22 serves toprevent the can from pivoting laterally about its area of engagementwith the feed wheel 28.

The magnetic lid lifter l@ includes a shell-like euclosure or coverpreferably formed from non-magnetic material, such as aluminum, andhaving a horizontally disposed mounting lange 4l for the aforementionedpivotal attachment to the can top guide bracket i4. The cover dil formsan enclosure with an open face, the open face lying in a single plane.The generally preferred shape of the cover at) is clearly depicted inthe several Orthographie views of the accompanying drawings.

A magnet assembly if comprises a holder @-4 and two block type permanentmagnets 46. The holder i4 is preferably of molded plastic and is shapedas clearly shown in Figs. 2 throuh 7 of the drawing. lt will be notedthat the holder lillis symmetrical about its vertical center line andhas two rectangular sockets (i8 disposed equi-distantly therefrom toaccommodate the two block type permanent magnets The magnets 46 are eachof rectangular block-shape except for parallel bevelled edges Sil andare appropriately secured in the rectangular sockets 4S of the holder 44so as to dispose a portion of each magnet d6 beyond a lower tace 52 ofthe holder as best shown in Fig. 3. rlhe securcment of the magnets do inthe holder 44 may be accomplished either by molding the latter aroundthe former or by cementation of the magnets lo into the holder 412iafter the latter is molded.

A vertical, cylindrical recess S4 is formed coaxially along the verticalcenter line of the holder 44 so as to extend from the face 52 thereof toa level 55 somewhat below an upper face 56 of the holder 45.2. Anaperture 58 of smaller diameter than the recess 54 extends coaXiallyfrom the level 5S to the face S6, therespacers by forming a horizontalledge at the upper level S of the recess 54.

The magnet assembly 42 is movably suspended within the cover 4t) bymeans of a preferably non-magnetic rivet pin e0 passing loosely throughthe aperture 58 in the holder 44 and firmly secured to the cover 40 asbest shown in Fig. 3. A preferably non-magnetic compression spring 64 isinterposed between the suspended head of the rivet pin 60 and the level55 of the holder 44, the magnet assembly 42 being thus supported in aposition wherein the upper face 56 of the holder 44 abuts with theinside top of the cover 4t?. lt will be noted that, although thedistribution of weight in the magnet assembly 40 is such as to disposeit in a normally level rest position, it is free to tip in any directiontherefrom. This ability to readily occupy a tipped position cooperateswith the usual tipping of a can lid at the moment of tnal severing andthus tends to equalize the holding strain upon the magnets 46 at thetime of maximum demand upon the attractive force of the magnet OperationWith a can such as 34 supported in the can opener 16 as previouslydescribed and as depicted in Figs. l and 2, the attractive force of themagnet assembly 42 upon the lid 32 causes the magnet assembly 42 todescend against the action of the spring 64 until the magnets 46 restupon the lid 32, as best shown in Fig. 2. As the crank 26 is turned, therotating feed wheel 28 causes the can 34 to rotate upon its verticalaxis, thereby shearing the lid 32 from the can 34, the magnets 46,meanwhile, remaining in continuous gliding contact with the lid 32. Atthe moment of complete severance of the lid 32 from the can 34, thenormal rearwardly downward tipping of the lid 32 causes a maximum strainupon the holding power of the magnet assembly 42 which is in partaccommodated by the above mentioned ability of the magnet assembly 42 toassume a slanting position. Upon complete Severance of the lid 32 fromthe can 34, the former continues to adhere to the magnet assembly 42,whereupon, the spring 64 is effective to withdraw the lid 32 upwardlyfrom the can 34 4so that the latter may be removed from the can opener16 without the lid 32. After removal of the can 34, the lid 32 may beeither pulled or slipped from the attraction of the magnet assembly 4.2.

When, for purposes of cleaning the cutter disc or parts associatedtherewith, it may be desirable to move the magnetic lid lifter itl fromits normal proximate position relative to these parts, it is onlynecessary to swing the magnetic lid litter it) about the pivot 12 to theposition indicated by the phantom lines of Fig. l to gain the desiredaccess.

It is apparent that there has been provided a magnetic lid lifter whichfulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawing have been given only by way of illustration andexample, and that changes in form and substitution of equivalentelements which will be apparent to those skilled in the art arecontemplated as within the scope of the present invention which islimited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a can opener including means for severing a topfrom a can, of magnetic means mounted on said can opener for retaining asevered top so as to prevent its falling into the open can including4 anenclosure, a holder suspension mounted in said enclosure, and aplurality of permanent magnets disposed in said holder.

2. In combination, means for severing a top from a can, magnetic meansfor retaining the severed top so as to prevent its falling into the opencan, said magnetic means including a holder and a plurality of separatepermanent magnets, and means associated with said holder whereby saidmagnetic means may be suspension mounted, said means for suspensionmounting being so disposed with respect to said magnetic means as toprovide a symmetrical distribution of the weight of said magnetic meansabout said means for suspension mounting whereby said magnetic meanstends to assume a level horizontal rest position and said association ofsaid means for suspension mounting with said holder being such as toenable said magnetic means readily to assume an inclined position whenso urged by magnetic attraction.

3. In combination, means for severing a top from a can and magneticmeans for retaining the severed top so as to prevent its falling intothe open can, said magnetic means including a symmetrically formedholder and a plurality of permanent magnets symmetrically disposedtherein.

4. In combination, means for severing a top from a can and magneticmeans for retaining the severed top so as to prevent its falling intothe open can, said magnetic means including a symmetrically formedholder and a plurality of permanent magnets symmetrically disposedtherein, said magnets having planar faces disposed substantially belowsaid holder for contact with the top of a can.

5. In combination, means for severing a top from a can and magneticmeans for retaining the severed top so as to prevent its falling intothe open can, said magnetic means including a symmetrically formedholder and a plurality of permanent magnets symmetrically disposedtherein, said holder being of non-magnetic material.

6. Magnetic construction comprising an enclosure, a magnet assemblyincluding a non-magnetic4 magnet holder, and means mounting said magnetassembly in said enclosure including a mounting member extending freelythrough one of said magnet holder and said enclosure and secured to theother, and a resilient member engaging said mounting member and one ofsaid magnet holder and said enclosure, said magnet assembly being biasedby said resilient member inwardly in respect to said enclosure, saidmounting means permitting tilting movement of said magnet assemblyrelative to said enclosure.

7. Magnetic construction comprising an enclosure, a magnet assemblyincluding a non-magnetic magnet holder, and means mounting said magnetassembly in said enclosure including a mounting member extending freelythrough one of said magnet holder and said enclosure and secured to theother, and a resilient member engaging said mounting member and one ofsaid magnet holder and said enclosure, said magnet assembly being biasedby said resilient member inwardly in respect to said enclosure, saidmounting means permitting tilting movement of said magnet assemblyrelative to said enclosure, said enclosure, said mounting member andsaid resilient member being formed of non-magnetic materials.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,265,491 Powers Dec. 9, 1941 2,369,300 Kehoe Feb. I3, 1945 2,385,859Jacobson i -n Oct. 2, 1945 2,437,234 Webb Mar. 2, 1948 2,474,036 CurleyJune 2l, 1949 2,489,475 Blind NOV. 29, 1949 2,503,467 Blind Apr. 1l,1950 2,573,427 Frolich Oct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 538,226 GreatBritain July 25, 1941

